Between 1789 and 1825, revolutions and wars for independence erupted across Latin America. Within only a generation, the centuries old Spanish and Portuguese colonies were destroyed and in their place over a dozen new nations emerged. Examine the seeds of rebellion in South and Central America from the beginnings of the Haitian revolution in 1791, through to the final defeat of the Spanish Empire in 1825. Explore the origins and nature of the colonial empires in the Americas and how their populations became alienated from their European founders. Trace the waves of revolution which rocked the sub-continent in the age of the heroic liberators before reflecting on the consequences of the revolutions and why their ambiguous legacy of endemic political instability continues to shape Latin America up to the present day. Lecture style with question and answer time.

Please note that there are no class meetings on Monday 6 and 27 May due to the May public holidays and the university is closed.  This class will therefore run on until Monday 1 July.